By LIAM DURKIN

 

CONSTRUCTION is underway at Traralgon Recreation Reserve on new changeroom facilities.

The long-standing yet flood-prone previous facility has been demolished, along with the Tony Lane Stand, paving the way for a modern upgrade.

While the new facility won’t be double-storey like its predecessor, it will sit some distance off the ground to ensure longevity in the event of flood.

The previous facility was left condemned for more than three years after floods swept through in June 2021.

Since then, user groups (Traralgon Football-Netball Club, Ex Students Cricket Club, Traralgon Boxing Club), as well as a project reference group, have worked on bringing a new facility to fruition.

The project suffered a number of setbacks during consultation phase, before a final design was finally approved last August.

There was 12 official Project Reference Group meetings alone since July last year, and more than eight concept plans drafted. The project went to tender last May, and all came in under budget.

Initial design plans were for a double storey facility, similar to the one that stood before the flood.

However, a follow up meeting in July last year revelled such a facility may have blown the $6.7 million budget, and so the decision was made to explore a single-storey design.

Sport and Recreation Victoria are contributing $2.75m, with the balance to come from state and local government funds and grants.

User groups may have felt forced to some extent, as if it did not make a decision, Sport and Recreation Victoria might have pulled their funding, although equally, there was a feeling that ‘something is better than nothing’.

Traralgon footballers had been operating out of unsafe rooms, while the netballers had been getting changed in literal tin sheds.

The new design accommodates proper football and netball changerooms, as well as Traralgon Boxing Club, who will keep their current space.

Latrobe City Council has put down a timeframe of October 2025 for project completion.

Traralgon still hopes to play home games next season, and will make do with portable rooms next season.